The phone rings and when I answer, a voice asks "Can you show me this house?" This one seemingly simple question releases a waterfall of other questions so the answer initially is "Well it depends".

First, are you working with a real estate agent with whom you have a written buyers agency contract and what are the terms of that contract? Does this contract restrict you from working with other agents in my area. I am not allowed to interfere with a relationship you may already have with another agent by PA real estate law. However, if you have been looking in Pittsburgh and now realize you are going to be moving to Philadelphia this agency contract may not apply. We will also explain to you, how we work with clients, and offer you an opportunity to work temporarily with us to see if we are a good fit together and if we meet your needs for an agent regarding communication, education of the process etc.

Secondly, how did you find my number? I advertise and market myself in multiple ways and I like to know where a lead is coming from and am interested in what has sparked this phone call. Maybe the caller found me on a site like Zillow and saw the number of homes I have sold and the positive reviews I have received. Perhaps, they mistakenly believe I am the listing agent for the house that interests them and so they believe I should show it to them as this will give them an advantage if this home is of interest.

Thirdly, let's sit down and talk about what you are looking for, how long you have been looking, what your lifestyle is like, what you are hoping to have in a home you buy and many other questions. Also, we will want you to know how much it is going to cost you to buy a home of this value and make sure you understand what all the different closing costs might be and how they affect what you can afford. Some costs are waived for veterans for example. Also, is this home in a development that has a home-owners association with a monthly fee as this will also affect how much house you can afford. What other debts do you have, for example car and school loans, will affect how much house you can afford. When you are in our office, we will share the names of some local mortgage bankers you can consult and obtain a mortgage pre-qualification from as we have found that many buyers using on-line systems have wrong limits to what they can buy.

As a buyers agent we can show you any home that is listed for sale in our MLS and many that are not, be they a quiet pocket listing, or a For Sale By Owner for example. Trudy and I have been in the business for a long time and know many agents, so just because a home might not be listed on the MLS does not mean we cannot get you in to see it. We can show you any home listed by any broker in the MLS in Pennsylvania. However, as we live and work along the Main Line, if you call me about a home in Pittsburgh, I most likely will suggest you use a more local agent who knows the area well and if you need help finding one I know several so can help you find an agent anywhere in the country.

If a home is a For Sale By Owner, we can also represent you and build our compensation into our offer in such a way that you continue to be represented and protected.

We work with multiple clients at any one time and our days are booked with appointments. At the same time a homeowner may or may not be ready for showings, so setting up a tour of homes takes a little time and it is best to give a homeowner some notice of our visit. There being two of us, we can usually accommodate your schedule, but still like to meet with you in our office first to get to know you and what you are looking for before we show you any homes to make sure the home meets your needs and wants. We preview many homes each week so know many of the homes in the area that are for sale and can suggest alternatives to what you have found online.

If you are buying or selling on or around Tredyffrin Easttown or along the Main Line we can help you, contact us or connect

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Nick and Trudy, can you show me a home is a great question, but you are right in that us agents need a lot more information before we should ever just go out and drive someone around looking at homes. Well said.

Videos mean you "show and tell" about the property listings. Expose the buyer online late at night far away to local community videos too. The interrogation is missing, the buyer gets in right now and likes what he sees and at your suggestion high tails it for the bank to get pre-approved (fingers crossed.